Donald Trump says threats prompted the US to withdraw B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, while British authorities investigate an alleged terrorist plot nearby…reports News Desk
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that a security threat prompted the withdrawal of American B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, days after British police arrested suspects over an alleged terrorist plot near the base.
Trump said the aircraft had not been moved “by accident”, while declining to identify the people or organisation he said was behind the threat.
The Pentagon confirmed over the weekend that all US bombers deployed at the British base had returned to their home stations in the United States. The aircraft are believed to include around a dozen B-1B Lancers, which have been used in US military operations against Iran.
Asked on Monday whether a specific threat had led to the withdrawal, Trump said: “Yeah, I think we can say that. They didn’t fly out by accident.”
“There were some threats,” he added, saying the US had decided there was little reason to leave the aircraft exposed.
Trump also claimed Washington knew who had made the threat, but did not provide further details.
RAF Fairford has become strategically important to US military operations because of its long runway and infrastructure for heavy bombers. The base has hosted B-1 and B-52 aircraft and has been used for US operations in the Middle East.
The remarks appeared to strengthen earlier reports in US media that the bomber withdrawal was linked to a fresh security concern surrounding RAF Fairford.
The development follows a major security incident near the base on 27 September, when British police arrested five men after receiving a report about three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the airfield.
The suspects, all British men in their 20s from London, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act. Counter Terrorism Policing later said they remained on bail as investigators continued to examine multiple lines of inquiry.
A 27-year-old dual British-Iranian national was subsequently arrested in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Police said they were examining possible foreign-state involvement but stressed that the investigation was complex and that all possible angles remained under consideration.
Iran has denied involvement in the alleged plot.
The September incident triggered a major police response around RAF Fairford, including a security cordon and the examination of three vans by bomb disposal specialists. The incident prompted the evacuation of dozens of nearby households as a precaution.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned against directly linking the bomber withdrawal to the investigation.
Speaking before travelling to Iceland, Greece and Portugal, Rubio said the US Department of War was “constantly reallocating resources” and that military aircraft routinely moved between locations for exercises, redeployments and personnel rotations.
Asked specifically whether there had been a threat, Rubio said Washington had documented what happened the previous week but added: “I wouldn’t directly tie that to the move that was made.”
His comments highlight a divergence in the public explanations from senior US officials. Trump has explicitly connected the aircraft movement to threats, while Rubio has stressed that redeployment of military assets is not unusual.
The UK government has also sought to reassure the public over security at RAF Fairford.
A No 10 spokesperson said the base remained safe and pointed to Trump’s earlier praise for Britain’s police, defence and security services.
RAF Fairford has become strategically important to US military operations because of its long runway and infrastructure for heavy bombers. The base has hosted B-1 and B-52 aircraft and has been used for US operations in the Middle East.
The latest withdrawal highlights the growing security risks facing military facilities that have become directly associated with the conflict with Iran.
